Goals

The goal of Veteran’s Incarcerated Program (VIP) is to reduce recidivism and to facilitate the successful reintegration of incarcerated veterans back into our community successfully.

The program is a “fast track” effort to help veterans currently incarcerated or recently released with referral sources available, including services for family members. The VIP takes a holistic approach to reintegrating incarcerated veterans back into the community.

Issues contributing to incarceration are numerous. VIP focuses on connecting veterans to services that address such issues.

Services
Services may include:

Employment Services

Financial Services

Food

Health Care

Mental Health Care

Substance Abuse

Transitional Housing

The veterans Incarcerated Program will utilize federal, state, and county resources as well as non-government partners within the community to assist incarcerated veterans. The program provides services supporting release from jail and the Veteran’s return to a healthy and productive life.

King County Veterans Project
The King County Veterans Project has produced credible results by reducing recidivism from 50% to 20% for veterans in their program. Other like programs has produced solid results by identifying the underlying health and emotional problems precipitating to the incarceration. Necessary support to achieving stabilization in the community will be incorporated in a successful reentry plan.

The goal is also to reduce recidivism and create a safer and healthier community. The Department of Human Services partners with agencies such as the Yakima County Department of Corrections, Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health, Washington Department of Veteran Affairs, the Yakima Vet Center, and veterans Affairs Medical Center in Walla Walla, as well as other community organizations.

Research
Research shows most veterans enrolled in county jail programs typically are in jail for one or more of the following reasons: possession or sale of drugs; DUI/public intoxication; domestic violence, shoplifting; and/or public nuisance. Many have histories including multiple short-term jobs since military service, and have records of under-employment or unemployment. Many have two or more drug or alcohol treatment program failures.

The most common denominators are untreated mental illness, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alcohol and drug issues, homelessness, and poverty. The program seeks to intervene while these veterans are in jail, assess their needs, and connect them to necessary treatment to achieve and maintain a better quality of life post-release.